Thousands protest populism and radical-right influence in Amsterdam
Several thousand people gathered Sunday afternoon on the Dam in Amsterdam to protest populism, political division, and what organizers describe as the growing influence of radical-right forces on the Dutch political agenda, NOS reported.
The demonstration, organized under the banner De Straat Op (“Into the Streets”), was supported by a coalition of 240 organizations. Organizers intend this to be the first in a series of ongoing protests aimed at pressuring the government. Although tens of thousands were expected, turnout was smaller than anticipated.
The event began at 1 p.m. with a brief program on the Dam. Around 2 p.m., demonstrators started a march covering more than four kilometers through the city. Their route will include Muntplein, Vijzelgracht, Frederiksplein, and Utrechtsestraat before returning to the Dam.
Participating groups included Woonprotest, Platform Stop Racisme, Plant een olijfboom, Feminist March NL, and FNV Young & United. Numerous LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations also joined the demonstration.
Protest signs carried slogans such as “Stop the witch hunt on trans people” and “I am a fortune seeker.” Demonstrators emphasized solidarity, inclusion, and resistance to fear-mongering, NOS reported. A demonstrator interviewed by NOS said they participated specifically “to defend the rights of queer individuals.”
In a statement, “Into the Streets” said, “We are fed up with radical-right fearmongers and populists setting the political agenda in the Netherlands and around the world.” The group added, “They endanger what should be self-evident, such as affordable housing, a livable world, and an open democracy.”
At the same time, a protest is taking place in Groningen, where demonstrators marched from the Grote Markt to the Noorderplantsoen, protesting “against fear and hatred and for a society of solidarity.”
